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Theranostics 2020; 10(13):5790-5801. doi:10.7150/thno.44789 This issue Cite

Research Paper

CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway

Nan Yang1, Tianxiang Chen2, Liang Wang2, Runkun Liu2, Yongshen Niu2, Liankang Sun2, Bowen Yao2, Yufeng Wang2, Wei Yang2, Qingguang Liu2, Kangsheng Tu2✉, Zhikui Liu2✉

1. Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China
2. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China

✉ Corresponding author: Dr Zhikui Liu and Kangsheng Tu, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an 710061, China. E-mail: liuzk0319edu.cn or tks0912c More

Citation:
Yang N, Chen T, Wang L, Liu R, Niu Y, Sun L, Yao B, Wang Y, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K, Liu Z. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Theranostics 2020; 10(13):5790-5801. doi:10.7150/thno.44789. https://www.thno.org/v10p5790.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Rational: Increasing evidence indicates that the physical environment is a critical mediator of tumor behavior. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops in an altered biomechanical environment, and increased matrix stiffness is a strong predictor of HCC development. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is known to trigger HCC progression. However, CXCR4 as a mediator of mechanical cues in HCC is not well characterized.

Methods: qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC were used to detect the CXCR4 expression in different matrix stiffness gels. MTT was used to measure the cell proliferation of HCC cells. Immunoblotting was used for detection of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness on the matrix stiffness. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear location in HCC cells. IP was used to show the interaction between YAP, UbcH5c and β-TrCP.

Results: We identified CXCR4 as a critical intracellular signal transducer that relays matrix stiffness signals to control mechano-sensitive cellular activities through ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1 (UBTD1)-mediated YAP signaling pathway. We found that CXCR4 expression was remarkably up-regulated in HCC cells with increasing matrix stiffness and mediated proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and stemness. Mechanistically, matrix stiffness acts through CXCR4 to decrease the levels of UBTD1, which is involved in the proteasome-dependent degradation of YAP, a major cell mechano-transducer. UBTD1 interacted with components of the YAP degradation complex and promoted the interaction between YAP and its E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP. UBTD1 knockdown decreased YAP ubiquitylation and resulted in the activation of YAP-targeted genes and YAP downstream signaling. Downregulation of UBTD1 in HCC tissues correlated with malignant prognostic features and overall survival. Finally, luteolin, a natural product, suppressed matrix stiffness-induced biological effects and CXCR4-mediated YAP signaling pathway in HCC cells.

Conclusion: Our findings reveal CXCR4 as a molecular switch in mechano-transduction, thereby defining a mechano-signaling pathway from matrix stiffness to the nucleus.

Keywords: C-X-C chemokine receptor 4, ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1, hepatocellular carcinoma, Yes-associated protein, matrix stiffness

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APA
Yang, N., Chen, T., Wang, L., Liu, R., Niu, Y., Sun, L., Yao, B., Wang, Y., Yang, W., Liu, Q., Tu, K., Liu, Z. (2020). CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Theranostics, 10(13), 5790-5801. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.44789.

ACS
Yang, N.; Chen, T.; Wang, L.; Liu, R.; Niu, Y.; Sun, L.; Yao, B.; Wang, Y.; Yang, W.; Liu, Q.; Tu, K.; Liu, Z. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Theranostics 2020, 10 (13), 5790-5801. DOI: 10.7150/thno.44789.

NLM
Yang N, Chen T, Wang L, Liu R, Niu Y, Sun L, Yao B, Wang Y, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K, Liu Z. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Theranostics 2020; 10(13):5790-5801. doi:10.7150/thno.44789. https://www.thno.org/v10p5790.htm

CSE
Yang N, Chen T, Wang L, Liu R, Niu Y, Sun L, Yao B, Wang Y, Yang W, Liu Q, Tu K, Liu Z. 2020. CXCR4 mediates matrix stiffness-induced downregulation of UBTD1 driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression via YAP signaling pathway. Theranostics. 10(13):5790-5801.

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